Hair-clipper.



No. 771,717. PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

I H. E. CONRAD.

HAIR CLIPPER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6,1904. N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 190 1.

PATENT OFFICE.

HAIR-CLIPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,717, dated October4, 1904.

A Application filed February 6, 1904. Serial No, 192,434. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. CONRAD, a citi- Zen of theUnited States,residing at Nanty Glo, in the county of Cam-brie and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Hair- Clipper, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for clipping hair, andhas for its object to provide a simply-constructed and easily-operateddevice of this character wherein the cutter member is actuated by apowerspring under the control of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to pro-,

vide in a device of this character means for automatically stopping themotion when the power-spring is nearly expended.

With these and other objects in view,which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the inventioncapable of carrying the same into practical operation, it beingunderstood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, asvarious changes in the shape, proportions, and

general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departingfrom the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages, and the right is therefor'e reserved of making allthechanges and modifications which fairly fall within the scope of theinvention and the claims made therefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a planview with cover removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional sideelevation. Fig. A is a sectional detail of the cutter-operatingmechanism.

In the improved device is comprised a supporting frame or casing 10 ofany approved form and size and having mounted for rotation therein amain shaft 11, having an actuating-spring 12 and gear 13. The shaft 11extends beyond the casing 10 and has a square, oblong, or otherirregular-shaped terminal 15 outside the casing to provide for theattachment of a winding-arm 16, the latter having a slot 17 at one endwith one end of the slot enlarged. By this means when the arm 16 ismoved into one position the shaft 11 will freely rotate in the enlargedend of the slot, and then when placed in the other position the shaftwill be engaged by the contracted portion of the slot and rotated withthe lever-arm. By this simple means when the spring is to be wound upthe lever-arm will be adjusted with the contracted portion of the slotin engagement with the square or oblong end 15 of the spring-shaft andthe latter rotated thereby, and when the winding is completed thelever-arm will be adjusted to bring the enlarged end of the slotopposite the spring-shaft, so that the shaft when slowly rotating withthe uncoiling of the spring will not carry the lever-arm with it.

A stop-spring 18 is attached to the arm 16 to yieldably engage theterminal 15 and retain it in place with sufficient force to preventaccidental displacement when in use.

Attached to the forward end of the frame 10 and preferably at'an anglethereto is a plate 19, having at its forward end spaced finger-bars 20,having their upper surfaces shear-faced to cooperate with thecorrespondingly-spaced cutter-teeth 21 on the cutter-bar 22, the lattermounted for reciprocation transversely of the plate 19 in the ordinarymanner of hair-clippers. At its rear end the cutter member 22 isprovided with a transverse guide-channel 23 and central cam-socket 24c,and the frame 10 is provided with a capplate 25, having a dependingguide-rib 26 engaging the channel 23. By this means when the cap-plateis secured in position, as by clamp-screws 27, the cutter-plate will besupported in position, but free to be moved transversely, as will beobvious.

Projecting from the plate 19 are spaced standards 28 29, formingbearing-posts for a shaft 30, having at one end a cam 31, operativelyengaging the cam -socket 24 and at the other end a bevel-pinion 32. Bythis arrangement it will be obvious that when the shaft 30 is rotatedthe plate 22 will be rcciprocated over the plate 19 and provide for theclipping action of its teeth 21 over the stationary shearteeth 20.

Between the gear 13 and pinion 32 a train of gears 33, 34, 35, and 36are interengagingly mounted upon counter-shafts 37 38 to provide for thetransmission of the motion of the spring 12 to the shaft and thence tothe plate 22 and its teeth 21.

Pivoted at 39 in the frame 10 is a lever 40,

with one end 41 bearing upon the gear 36 and the other end extended intoa finger or thumb plate 42, and with a spring 43 for yieldablymaintaining the end 41 normally in engagement with the gear 36. Thespring 43 will be of sufiicient strength to resist the action of thespring 12 and hold the gearing stationary, so that the plate 22 willalso remain stationary while the lever is in action. The extended end 42of the brake-lever is positioned convenient to one of the fingers of thehand which holds and guides the implement, so that the motion is thuscompletely under the control of the operator, which ceases, as will beobvious, immediately upon the release of the brake-lever. By this meansthe motion continues only so long as required, so that no waste of thepower of the spring occurs.

Attached to the frame 10 opposite some part of the spring 12 is anautomatic stop mechanism consisting of a lever 44, pivotedintermediately at 45, with one end, 46, preferably hook-shaped andextendible over the gear 34, and with the other end, 47, for engagementby the outer whirl of the spring 12 when the latter is nearly unwound orin its expanded condition. Projecting from the gear 34 is a stop-pin 50,into whose path the hooked end 46 of the lever 44 is projected when thespring 12 is sufficiently expanded to engage the opposite end 47 andmove it outwardly. A spring 49 is connected to hold the lever 44normally in its inoperative or withdrawn position or with the hooked end46 outside the path of the stop-pin 50. The terminal 47 will be sopositioned relative to the spring 12 that the outer whirl or coil of thelatter will engage the same sufliciently remote from its fully-expandedposition to cause the stoppage of the cutter mechanism when in fullaction, and thus prevent the action from becoming weak at the last partof its period of operation. In other words, with this simple attachmentit is possible to stop the action while the spring still containsconsiderable force, so that no danger exists of the cutterbar becomingweak in its action at the last portion of its period of operation. Theoperator is thus given timely and unmistakable notice that the springrequires rewinding. This is an important advantage in devices of thischaracter, as any weakening of the action at any period would be verydetrimental to work being performed and would result in an unevencutting and cause the clipped hair to present a ragged appearance.

To permit winding of the spring 12 without actuating the cuttingapparatus, the pinion 33 is mounted to run loosely upon the shaft 37 andthe gear 34 is provided with a dog 51 to engage the ratchet-disk 52,carried by the under side of the pinion, and interlock the gear and thepinion for simultaneous rotation under the unwinding influence of thespring, but permitting of the free reverse rotation of the pinion 33independently of the gear 34 during winding of the spring. WVhen thespring is wound up and under tension, the apparatus is held inactive bythe lever 40, which engages the gear 36, so that by manipulation of thislever the spring-motor may be thrown out of operation at the will of theoperator.

The casing 10 will be formed of a size and shape to be readily graspedby the hand of the operator and may be provided with suitable finger andthumb engaging lugs similar to those employed upon ordinaryhand-operated clippers, if required; but as the form and purpose ofthese appurtenances are so well understood it is not deemed necessary toillustrate them.

In this device it will be obvious a very simple, compact, and convenientimplement is produced admirably adapted to the purposes described andwhich may be operated by any person skilled in the operation ofhair-clippers of the ordinary construction.

The device is adapted to all the purposes for which hair-clippers areusually employed and may be constructed in various sizes and forms, asrequired.

The casing will usually be of metal suitably formed and ornamented topresent a pleasing appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device of theclass described, including a cutting apparatus, a mechanical motor foractuating the same, and means controlled by the motor for stopping theoperation of the cutting apparatus at a predetermined period in theoperation of the motor.

2. A device of the class described, including a cutting apparatus, amechanical motor for operating the same, and means controlled by themotor for stopping the operation of the cutting apparatus when the powerof the motor has decreased to a predetermined degree.

3. A device of the class described, including a cutting apparatus, aspring-motor therefor, and means controlled by the spring forautomatically stopping the operation of the cutting apparatus when thepower of the spring has decreased to a predetermined degree.

4. A device of the class described, including a cutting apparatus, aspring-motor, a train of gears extending between the spring-motor andthe cutting apparatus, and means controlled by the spring of the motorand acting upon one of the gears to stop the operation of the cuttingapparatus when the power of the spring has decreased to a predetermineddegree.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a cutting apparatus, aspring-motor including a coil-spring, and means located in the path ofone of the coils of the spring for actuation thereby to stop theoperation of the cutting apparatus when the power of the spring hasdecreased to a predetermined degree.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a cutting apparatus, aspring-motor therefor including a coil-spring, and means to stop theoperation of the cutting apparatus when the power of the spring hasdecreased to a predetermined degree and including a lever having aportion located in the path of one of the coils of the spring to actuatethe controlling means.

7 In a device of the class described, the combination of asupporting-frame, a cutting apparatus carried by said frame, anactuatingspring, a train of gears connected to transmit motion from saidspring to said cutting apparatus, a stop upon one of said gears, and astop member positioned to be projected into the path of said stop-pin bythe expansion of said spring, whereby the motion of said gearing isautomatically stopped when the spring is distended to a certainpredetermined extent.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of asupporting-frame, an actuatingspring, a cutting apparatus carried bysaid frame, a train of gears connected to transmit motion from saidspring to said cutting apparatus, a stop upon-one of said gears, and aspring-controlled lever positioned to be projected into the path of saidstop by the expansion of said spring.

9. In adevice of the class described, the combination of asupporting-frame, an actuatingspring, a cutting apparatus carried bysaid frame, operating means between said spring and cutting apparatus, aWinding crank-arm carried by the shaft of said' spring and provided witha slot enlarged at one end and adapted for positive engagement with thespring-shaft when moved to one position and disengaged therefrom whenmoved into another position.

10. ln'a device of the class described, the combination of asupporting-frame, an actuating-spring, a cutting apparatus carried bysaid frame, operating means between said spring and cutting apparatus, awinding crankarm carried by the shaft of said spring and provided with aslot enlarged at one end and adapted for positive engagement with thespring-shaft when moved to one position and disengaged therefrom whenmoved into another position, and a stop-spring for yieldably couplingsaid crank-arm to said spring-shaft.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame, ofa cutting apparatus carried thereby, a spring-motor therefor having itswinding-shaft projected externally through the casing and reduced to apolygonal shape, and a winding crank-arm having a keyhole-slot for thereception of the reduced projected end of the shaft and capable ofmovement to receive the shaft in either end of the keyhole-slot.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame, ofa cutting apparatus carried thereby, a spring-motor therefor having itswinding-shaft projected externally through the casing and reduced to apolygonal shape, a winding crank-arm having a keyhole-slot for thereception of the reduced projected end of the shaft and capable ofmovement to receive the shaft in either end of the keyhole-slot, and aleaf-spring connected to the crank-arm and bearing upon the outer end ofthe winding-shaft.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame, ofa stationary cu tter-bar having shear-fingers, bearings upon the bar inrear of the fingers, a reciprocatory cutter member having atongue-and-groove slidable connection with the cutter-bar and providedin its upper face with a transverse channel and a cam-socket in the rearof the channel, the forward upper portion of the frame having a pendentflange received in the channel of the cutter-bar to form a guidetherefor, a spring-motor upon the frame, and a drive-shaft mounted inthe bearings with its rear end operatively connected to the springmotorand provided at its forward end with a cam working in the ca1n-socket ofthe cutterbar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY E. CONRAD.

Witnesses:

HARRY DOERR, J NO. F. CONRAD.

Ioo

